Evan Reitmannthe influential director and producer behind the hit comedy by animal shelter to ghostbusters He died. He was 75 years old.
Reitman died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Montecito, Calif., on Saturday night, his family told the Associated Press.
“Our family mourns the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” children Jason Reitman, Katherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement. “We are relieved that his work as a director has brought laughter and happiness to countless people around the world. As we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will always remember him.”
Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group said, “Tonight the woman who carries the torch weeps, as do all of us in Colombia and film fans around the world.” Evan Reitman has been an integral part of that studio’s legacy, but he was more of a friend. A great talent and a superior man; we will miss him very much. We extend our condolences to his family.”
Known for his big punk comedy that captured the zeitgeist of his era, Reitman’s big break came with the raucous college fraternity cable. National Lampoon Animal House, which he produced. Directed by Bill Murray in his first starring role in Cardigan Then back in stripesbut his greatest success came with 1984 ghostbusters.
Starring Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, the irreverent supernatural comedy not only grossed nearly $300 million worldwide, it also garnered two Academy Award nominations and spawned a bona fide franchise shows new movie and Ghostbusters: Life After Death, Which opened last year and was helmed by his son, director Jason Reitman.
Evan Reitman said: Der Hollywood-Reporter in November that Ghostbusters: Life After Death It was an emotional project for him, especially seeing his original three strands in uniform. “It was a very personal and sometimes tearful experience,” he said. THR. “The day all three of them first showed up and checked things out – it was extraordinary; I just felt energized, not just for me but I felt it in the cast and in the cast. I felt it everywhere.”
In conversation with scenario Last year Jason spoke regarding the experience of working with his father on the film. “It’s impossible to explain the feeling of not just being the world’s first authority ghostbusters But he’s also one of the greatest storytellers of our time, and I can turn to him and trust him while I’m making the film.”
Evan Reitman was originally set to direct his third film before son Jason came on board the franchise in his own style. ghostbusters movie but Withdrawn Following the death of original star Harold Ramis and Bill Murray’s reluctance to take the boat back then. He ended up as a producer on this film, which was eventually directed by a woman in 2016 ghostbusters Directed by Paul Feig.
“I am completely shocked”, Fig chirp Sunday night. “I have had the privilege of working closely with Evan and it has always been a learning experience. He directs some of my favorite comedies of all time. Each of us in comedy owes him a lot. Thanks for everything Evan Really. “
As for that Beyondsaid Evan Reitman scenario He cried following hearing regarding Jason’s idea to continue the franchise. “On the way back, I started crying as soon as Jason told me the story,” he said in the same interview. “The first time he did it, he made it clear that he thought he had done it ghostbusters The idea that he was thinking of doing it, he told me the story and I might feel her feelings and what the right idea was to continue this story, which luckily I was able to pull through in 1984.”
Beyond It earned $128.8 million domestically and received positive reception. While Sony hasn’t announced a sequel, it has left the door open for more.
While Reitman has hooked up with Murray on several occasions, their first meeting didn’t go well, Reitman He said In a 2016 interview with PBS, Reitman said their first meeting was at a rehearsal National spelling Starring Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Ramis and Brian Doyle Murray. Reitman noted that the group has been working together for some time.
“I made a mistake when I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be better if… “He made some suggestions,” Reitman said. “Everyone stops and looks at me. Bill, the bravest of the group, approaches me. He wraps my scarf around my neck in a really dangerous way and says, “Hey, thanks for coming, see you later” and pulls me right out of the room.”
Reitman was looking forward to directing once more and had plans to direct this year Dreiergruppencontinuation of him Twins, the 1988 comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as unexpected twins. He was set to oversee the project, which was set to start filming in Boston earlier this year and would bring Tracy Morgan into the franchise as a long-lost brother. This may have been his first directorial effort since Kevin Costner’s 2014 sports drama draft day.
Among other notable films by Reitman Kindergartenpolizist Dave, Jr. and Six days and seven nights. also produce Beethoven, old school and Eurotrip, And many others including several for Jason. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture alongside Jason and Daniel Dubicki higher in the air Directed by Jason in 2010.
Reitman was also nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Television Movie in 1996 as part of the producing team late layer Which sparked the late-night rivalry between David Letterman and Jay Leno.
He was born in 1946 in Komarmo, Czechoslovakia, where his father owned the country’s largest vinegar factory. When the communists began imprisoning the capitalists following the war, the Rittmanns decided to flee when Rittmann was only four years old and traveled to Vienna in a fist barge.
Together with a relative in Toronto, Al Rittman showed his business tendencies on his show: he founded a puppet theater, held summer camps and played cafes with a folk music group. He studied music and acting at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and began making short films.
Ryan Parker, Aaron Koch, and Hilary Lewis contributed to this report.
